IF YOU’RE AN ALUM, CHANCES ARE YOU’VE ANSWERED A CALL FROM UC SAN DIEGO.

You know the one. That call. The one that asks for you to give back. I’ve answered that call
too—both before and after becoming the Chief Alumni Officer for UC San Diego, and I want
to tell you how my perspective has dramatically changed.

It really comes down to one definition: that of the phrase “giving back.” Many people hear
this simply as monetary, but in my role, I have learned of the many forms it can take.

Giving back could be as easy as connecting with a fellow alum you haven’t seen in a while.
It could mean connecting with other Tritons at any one of our volunteer opportunities or
networking events. In the professional realm, it could be hiring your fellow Tritons, coming
back to mentor students, or being a resource when a current student reaches out to ask
how you got to where you are in your career. These activities strengthen our bond in the
world, which in turn strengthens our collective success.

Giving back could be as simple as taking pride in your degree and telling people you’re
a Triton. Because with every new ranking we earn, with every new breakthrough you read
about, your pride should rise because of what your university is doing for the world.

Giving back could mean simply coming back. Visiting the campus you remember and seeing
how it has changed, witnessing the determination and potential of current students, or
remembering your own time here as a student and reflecting on how far you’ve come since.

And of course, giving back could also be monetary support. It’s an important means of helping
the university transform our students, transform our community and transform the world.
But if the only way you can give back is by giving of your time—volunteerism, ambassadorship
or mentorship—we appreciate you all the same!

So think of this next time you answer a call, and let your answer be involvement of any kind.
Or better yet, don’t wait for the call—think of this, and let the call come from within.

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

ANSWERING THE CALL

With Triton pride,

Steph Barry ’94

Assistant Vice Chancellor & Chief Alumni Officer
UC San Diego Alumni

There’s always more online!

A nontradition as rich as ours
couldn’t fit in just eight pages. See
more of the historic artifacts that
make the Triton experience unique
at tritonmag.com/nontradition

Our 2017 alumni honorees had so
much to say about medicine, art,
writing, data and social justice—
visit tritonmag.com/2017honoreesfor the extended interviews.

Kate Rubins ’99 came back to Earth
with spectacular photos taken from
aboard the International Space
Station. View the slideshow at
tritonmag.com/katerubins